Sin and Salvation

“I feel like a whore,” Kassandra told her father.

“You need to smile, darling,” Father said.

“I am,” she said in as steady a voice as she could muster. The dress Mother and Father made her wear revealed much of her navel and chest. She flushed with heat and could feel herself begin to sweat even in the chill of the night. The dress was so tight her handmaiden, Keira, had to help her squeeze into it. She wondered how they could make her wear this dress in front of him.

“You are to sit next to Gaudenis for the night. Look pleased,” said Eadred. His voice had an urgent edge.

It felt cold and vulnerable in the dress with so much of her body showing. Kassandra released his arm and wrapped her cloak around herself. Heavy wool kept the chill at bay. It seemed that the Vidigurans had brought with them cold and heavy winds. They blew down the valley floor over the rivers Steg and Gine and into the castle. It shrieked as it extinguished the torches. So father and daughter walked with only a few founts of dim light with the wailing wind whirling the furs around their necks.

“It is important to show our people that the Vidigurans may no longer be our enemies,” Eadred started. Tonight was the welcome feast. The great hall would be filled with dozens of long oak tables, each seating a score of men. Eadred would have invited a thousand, but he would have to settle for only three hundred.

The urgency in his voice scared her.

Before, when Kassandra was much younger, she had heard this tone of his. One evening her shutters had blown open, banging against the inside of her room. The whacking of wood on stone woke her up in a fright. She was too scared to move. The wind battered its way into her room that night, and brought with it the snows of midwinter, and the nightmares. Nasty things, vile things, crept into her dreams when the winds came. She lied awake until the guards came in, either from the banging shutters or her crying.

Kassandra asked the guards to take her to Father and Mother to sleep in their bed, as she always did when she got scared. Her back was rubbed by her mother, who talked with her father, trying to calm both of them down. Kassandra had fallen asleep before she caught any worthwhile information. All she heard was that a revolt in Thune had begun to cause problems.

His voice that night had been quickened and hardened just as it was now. At eighteen years old, ten years later, she still felt on the eave of a nightmare, wanting to crawl back in with her parents. This time her parents were the nightmare.

She looked at the torch’s light dancing against the stone as her father talked.

“If our people see the crowning beauty of Concordia is happy and comfortable, they will feel the same. You hold more power than you think. Setting the people at ease is the job of more than just the King.” He coughed and itched his nose. “Do not be worried. Your mother and I will be seated at the table with you, just down a few seats. This night will not be easy for either of us.”

“Do I have to sit next to him the whole night?”

“Yes, you do.”

“I haven’t even met him yet. It will be so awkward,” Kassandra said,

“I have only just met them this morning. Sitting next to Stefan, Gaudenis’ father, will be much worse. Can I count on you?”

“Yes, Father.” She felt the flush of heat grow again as the pressure mounted. She had already prayed for peace, there wasn’t more that she could ask of the Gods.

Father had wanted Stefan and Gaudenis to see her in her dress, and not once before. So, following Gaudenis’ arrival, she went to the Four Hallows and prayed. She sat for an hour in silence before she had to ready herself.

The clamor ahead grew. Kassandra could see just at the end of the hall her mother and brother waiting. Her uncle, too, was there, talking to two strangers.

Her mother, Rae, came to them. Kassandra looked similar to her mother; her hair had once been the same blonde as Kassandra’s but had begun to grow more hazel over the years; they had the same slender figure that looked stunning in long dresses; and the one thing that was the exact same were their blue eyes. Beautiful blue eyes that, as her mother said, could win over any man. Her mother had done just that to Eadred.

“Let them see,” Rae said with a wave of her hand at her body. Kassandra let go of the cloak, exposing herself once more. She let out a huff. In comparison to her Mother she felt overdressed.

“You look beautiful,” Rae said. “All the men will be looking at you tonight—Gaudenis won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.”

Kassandra nodded her head.

“Let us go meet them,” Father said. The others waited under the archway into the dining hall.

Gaudenis was there with his father, looking her way the whole time. The two men’s hair was the same cut, pulled back into a pony-tail with small locks floating down the sides of their head. Gaudenis’ a dark brown and his father’s black. They both wore white tunics covered in a pattern of knotted red lines and swirls that ran its length upwards to the collar and on to the wide pads of the shoulders. Gaudenis donned much more gold than she had ever seen a man wear; a golden chain wreathed in rubies sparkled at his every movement and his rings gave a weighty look to his hands.

He was tall and broad, she noticed.

All of a sudden, she felt a sudden heaviness in her that made her want to scream. She patted her dress down and fidgeted with her bracelets.

Stefan bowed to her. “I am Stefan Vidiguran, King of the Northern Kingdoms. This is my son, Gaudenis.” He pulled the lock of hair behind his head. He smiled a set of bright white teeth. Gaudenis bowed as well.

Kassandra returned a bow after a moment’s hesitation.

“You look wonderful tonight,” Gaudenis said with a strong accent. His eyes moved down her slender figure, onto her taught stomach, and back up. “That dress suits you perfectly.” Kassandra knew her cheeks blushed.

“Isn’t she darling?” Rae put her hands on Kassandra’s shoulders. “You two will enter together, after Stefan.” She wove Kassandra’s hand into Gaudenis’. It felt odd to her, holding another’s hand in her own. She hoped he wouldn’t notice her sweating hand.

Kassandra looked around, as if in search of an excuse to leave. She caught her brother’s eyes. He gave her a smug grin that told her she was getting what she deserved. Earic had always been jealous, being two and a half years younger, and always told her that she was the favorite, that Mother and Father only liked her. She always got everything while he waited and watched, he said.

The opening of the double doors brought her back to the pressures of the moment.

Eadred and Rae went first, past the many banners of green and gold, the colors of their house, that adorned the wall. Those that were seated below the royal table clapped in celebration of their king and queen. Once they sat, Stefan went in alongside Heagen, her uncle.

Heagen did not look at all like Eadred’s brother. They were twins, Heagen and Eadred, yet Heagen was several inches shorter. Though Eadred had the body of a stout warrior, Heagen looked no less fierce with his wiry body and furrowing brows, beneath which lay desiring eyes and a sharp, pointy nose. His hair was still a lighter brown whereas Eadred’s had begun to go grey from the years as King.

When Stefan and Heagen entered the room went silent. Where Eadred was rough Stefan was elegant. He strolled with precision through the bleak quietness of the room unfazed. He had more the appearance of a king than her father. His steps were gentle and too fair. Through his beautiful facade he gave her a feeling of unease.

Before she was ready it was her turn to walk out. Kassandra followed after Heagen and Stefan.

The room clapped when Kassandra returned, but not as loud as she would have hoped for. She had to impress the people, show them that her family knew what they were doing.

Earic came in last, alone. He walked like a gangling newborn deer, unsure of their body, and still young. He was nearly sixteen, which would make him a man. Kassandra knew he was far from actually becoming one, though.

They took their seats, Gaudenis having pulled Kassandra’s chair out for her, and waited.

In front of her family she talked, though not nearly as much as Earic, and in no way could prattle on like her mother. A gentle voice like hers was often outspoken by others. Kassandra kept biting the inside of her cheek before reminding herself smile.

After all had been seated, Father rose with his mug held high and smacked his fork against the side. “I would like to welcome my guests from the Northern Kingdoms—Stefan Vidiguran and his son Gaudenis.”

The room remained quiet. Kassandra looked down at her empty plate and folded her hands under the table. She said a silent prayer, barely moving her lips.

“We are grateful for their safe travels and now for their company,” he continued. “They have come here, out of their own kindness, to work towards peace. To show their willingness, they offer their son to us. Let us enjoy the night with them, and come the morning decide if our Princess Kassandra shall marry them. Let us drink to peace and friendship!” The rooms uneasiness was replaced by a gentle clapping.

Following the last wars between her family and Gaudenis’, there has been nearly twenty years of peace. The people wanted more of it, and so did her father.

Kassandra rested her head against the back of her chair. She smiled as the heaviness faded.

The serving boys brought out meat pies and spiced mead and salmon with wild mushrooms. The natural sounds of a party returned with fervor. Whores sat atop tables and laughed amidst the many men, especially with the guards. Cups of wine spilled on the floor and were quickly refilled. The cellars would be emptied tonight.

“Are the trees as tall as they say in Timberlan?” Gaudenis asked between bites of food.

“Of course,” Kassandra said. “The animals are just as enormous.”

Gaudenis gave her a look.

“Do you not believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Your face makes it look like you don’t. If only you had seen the elk my father brought down in Timberlan. The beast had antlers so large that they spanned nine feet wide with beams as thick as your thigh.” The words were gushing out now in her giddiness.

“I must say, I hardly believe that,” Gaudenis said.

“Very well.”

“Don’t be that way.”

Kassandra remained silent.

“After we are married you can show me the truth of this forest,” Gaudenis said.

“That is if my family decides that I am to marry you,” Kassandra said.

“If we marry, then we should travel there.”

“It is far.”

“Our Kingdoms would be at peace and for once it will be safe to journey where we please. I cannot wait to show you of my country.” He waved his fork around a bit. His face was bright with excitement. “My great mountains, The Spires, climb so high into the sky that they are lost in the clouds. Oh! Our Basilica is something you have to see. It is nothing like anything you have laid your eyes upon. It took forty-five years to build,” Gaudenis said.

“I cannot wait,” Kassandra said, uninterested.

“You have a beautiful temple here, too.”

“We call it the Four Hallows, or the Hallows for short.”

“Your Watchers are fascinating,” Gaudenis said.

Kassandra smiled. “Well, we call it the Four Hallows for each of our four Gods.”

“Will we be married there?” He asked.

“No. We would be married under the two oaks in the Grove, the gardens outside the keep,” Kassandra said.

“That is odd.”

“My father, and his father before him, since the first Alden King, have been married under those oaks,” Kassandra said.

“They must be old.”

“They have been there since my ancestors rebelled against your people. When they won’t their freedom they built the castle around the great oaks,” she said. “I am surprised you do not know this.”

“Why would I know of your gods, your city or your customs?” Gaudenis ate the last bite of his meat pie.

“It would be smart to know who you may marry.”

“My father,” he started, before swallowing. “Has told me little of your country.”

“Can you not read of it?”

Gaudenis reached over her arm, stabbed some of her food and ate it. “My father had me instructed in other subjects.”

Off Gaudenis’ plate Kassandra took the biggest piece of salmon her fork could hold and shoved it all in her mouth. “Do you know your own country?” Kassandra asked, cheeks bulging with food.

His lips became a hard line. “Of course,” he said.

She washed down the salmon with his cup of mead. She did her best not to show her dislike for alcohol. “Well, you will need to learn of my country, and soon,” Kassandra said.

He continued to eat and said little else. He must not have had many good meals on his journey, she guessed, for he ate with enthusiasm and paused only briefly to ask about what was being served. At least it keeps him quiet.

Kassandra looked down the table. Eadred and Stefan were talking and her mother was in conversation with her uncle. Her brother sat quietly at the other end. Kassandra would gladly switch spots with him. She sat there as glum as Earic, waiting for the night to come to its end.

Stefan rose and came to stand in front of Kassandra. “Kassandra,” he said. “I bring gifts in honor of you and your family.” At a call, his guards brought in four chests. They set the first one on the table before her and began to unlock the intricate metal bands that enveloped the wood. It was a gift of itself with its gilded frame and small jewels, but inside there was much more to be seen. Layers upon layers of red and white fabric: the colors of house Vidiguran.

Stefan rose from his seat and came to stand in front Kassandra and his son. “I will not have you unprepared for your wedding night,” Stefan said. “If you so choose to marry my son.”

One of the guards began to reach for the fabric. Stefan smacked his hand away. “This isn’t for your hands to touch,” Stefan said. The movement sent his black hair swaying.

“Yes, my King,” said the man.

Stefan pulled a dress out and held it in front of the princess. Reaching her hand out, she felt the dress. The soft fabric would feel nice against her skin.

“We had our greatest tailor work with the finest fabrics for that dress. Would you honor us and wear it?” Stefan asked.

Kassandra looked to her father and mother. The two smiled back. “I would love nothing more.” She rubbed the dress once more before they took it back.

Another heavier chest was set down upon the table resulting in a loud thump. Inside were shelves, each holding jewelry from the North. Kassandra had heard that the Northerners were excellent craftsmen but she never expected what she saw. Stefan reached in and grabbed a necklace, which was heavy from its blue gems with silver that enveloped over them in intricate designs. “Those jewels are most valuable. They are blue diamonds found only within our mountains. Our miners must dig deep for them,” Gaudenis explained as his father showed her.

“Let this jewelry be a gift for you and your mother,” Stefan said, motioning to the rest of the chest. Stefan handed the necklace to Gaudenis.

“May I put it on?” Gaudenis asked.

“Yes, yes!” Kassandra said, her back turned to him. He put the necklace over her neck, and it draped heavy with the beautiful diamonds.

“We heard you’re eyes were lovely,” Gaudenis said. “And we hoped to find jewels as beautiful to match.”

“You do have wonderful eyes, dear,” Stefan said.

She looked over to see a third chest, carried by four of Stefan’s men, laid in front of her Father. Once opened it revealed its treasure, and a treasure it was. Coins spilled from the brim which clinked as they bounced along the stone floor. Father stood and smiled, making sure all saw what had been given to him.

“We want your coffers to be as full as ours in our alliance. A token to this desire,” Stefan said.

What she had mistaken for the fourth chest was actually a large box. The same two men who brought the first chest set it a few feet in front of the table and cracked it open. A bow was handed to Earic.

“This has been crafted from our yew trees. It makes for a long bow which can kill a man five hundred paces away,” Stefan said. Earic stood and bowed, smiling wide, and thanked Stefan.

“And for you Eadred,” Stefan said. He reached in with both arms and heaved out a heavy object: a dark grey chest plate, inlaid with gold. He handed it to Father and then pulled two pauldrons out. Upon the chest plate was crafted a head, evil as it were, and was held up by two women, naked; their bodies displayed. The faces the women held up were ghastly and horrific. Each had long twisted ears from which golden chains hung. The mouths smiled two sharp canines that crawled over the lips and reached well below the chin. The pauldrons bore similar arrangements.

Eadred was admiring the armor in earnest. His head was cocked back as he held the chest piece in his arms. She shivered thinking of the creatures that inspired those faces.

“Men’s hearts will be struck with fear seeing that armor,” Stefan said. “Our smiths worked that steel for months. We hope it protects you in your times of need.”

Father itched his nose again before yelling out to the crowd. “Once again, we are ever grateful for Stefan and what he has given to us.” The crowd cheered freely, clapping and standing at once.

Once the crowd had settled, the gifts had been returned and the dessert brought out, Rae came over to Kassandra. “Take him to the Grove. Show Gaudenis our beautiful gardens,” she said. Kassandra sighed and stood up. She wanted to eat the sweets that were soon to come out.

“Would you join me for a walk, Gaudenis?” Kassandra exhaled, extending her hand to the prince. He gestured her to lead the way.

Surrounded by the guards of both families, Kassandra led Gaudenis through the castle and, finally, out in to the cold night. Rain had started up again. But under the stone covered walkway, they were safe. Pillars supported the stone arches from which decorative metal circles hung. Kassandra made sure to stay near the center of the walkway so that the wind-blown rain could not reach them under the canopy. She hoped they were far enough away from the two guards that the rain would cover up their voices.

They walked for some time before talking. Then Kassandra led him to a bench where they sat and watched the rain.

After some time, Kassandra turned from the rain. “My Father had this built so he could walk through the summer rains. It is a quiet place for him to think. I come here, too,” Kassandra said.

“Often?”

“Yes, I love watching the birds and writing poetry. It lets me get out of doing my needlework,” she giggled. Gaudenis laughed a bit, too, and squeezed her hand.

“It is wonderful right now,” Gaudenis said.

“I hate it,” Kassandra said. Gaudenis gave her a look. “I like the rain, but I hate the wind. It keeps me up at night with nightmares.”

“What was your latest nightmare?”

“I jumped out my window.”

“Was it a long drop?” Gaudenis asked.

“I am on the highest floor.”

“Were you trying to fly in the wind?”

“I had no wings,” Kassandra said.

“Then the wind just makes you stupid.”

Kassandra couldn’t help but giggle again, especially with his accent.

“You should stick to poetry. Watching birds has not gotten you anywhere.” Gaudenis grinned.

“If I watch the fish in the pond will I end up drowning?”

“Of course,” Gaudenis said. And now they were both laughing.

The heavy clanking of boots interrupted their laughter. A third guard had arrived and after a moment, he spoke in a steady voice. “M’lady, m’lord, something has happened inside the keep. You two are must return at once.” His voice was steady.

Kassandra gripped Gaudenis’ hand. The butterflies that had begun to fill her stomach fluttered away. They were a hundred paces from the archway leading back to the keep. She now wished there was more time to be spent with Gaudenis.

The three men hurried the couple up the spiraling staircases to her father’s study, which was on the topmost floor near her father’s bedchamber. Stefan and Father stood near the eastern window, discussing something too quiet for her to hear. A dozen other soldiers laid around in wait. Two robed men, Clerics of the Watchers, worked over a body laid out across the huge table. Kassandra released Gaudenis’ hand and walked over to the body of the man. Across the hauberk was a slash, right through the chain-mail down into skin. Blood rushed down his sides staining the table red. His helmet had been removed revealing a bloody nose and teeth.

A hand laid on her shoulder and it made Kassandra jump.

“They found one of my guards in the stairwell nearest the bedrooms,” her father said. “We were notified at dinner, and left early to make sure you two were safe.”

Kassandra shivered from the thought of this man being hacked down, alone.

“I am glad to see you two are safe. You need a dozen guards at all times. Both of you,” Stefan said, looking intently at both of them.

“Of course Father,” Gaudenis said.

Kassandra nodded.

Gaudenis questioned about what had happened. Neither her own father nor Stefan had much to say. What she learned from the little she heard was a patrolmen found Landon, the guard, face down, blood splattered against the wall, with no sign of a struggle. Whoever attacked had stepped in his blood, leaving a few tracks up the stairwell.

“I want four guards on every bedroom door tonight and two at every entrance or exit to this keep. Whatever is stalking these hallways won’t be leaving,” Eadred said in a frustrated tone.

The orders were being given to the captain of the guard, Gerard. He was a kindly man, and his duty was often to watch over Kassandra. Seeing him so serious and angry was riveting. His shoulders seemed bigger, his chest puffed out. He no longer had the look of the man who would ask endless questions of the flowers she wrote about.

“Gerard, take her to her room. She does not need to hear more,” Eadred ordered. Kassandra was led outside the room towards her bedchamber.

“Will that man be okay?” Kassandra asked Gerard.

“Yes, m’lady. And you will be, too, we have already searched your room. Get a good night’s rest and it will all be better when the morning comes.” He opened her bedchamber door and four men came out to stand guard outside the entrance.

“Thank you Gerard,” she said. She smiled at him and closed the door after he bowed.

Kassandra sat in front of her mirror. The princess leaned back on the chair trying to calm herself. She fingered each of the gems of her new necklace, feeling their facets and edges. The necklace was beautiful. This was the first time she had gotten to see it on herself. It was but a first gift and she wondered what more would be given to her if she were to become his wife.

Kassandra’s mind quickly wandered to Gaudenis. He had made her smile so easily. Surely he would be able to cheer her up right now. She crawled under the covers as soon as she blew out the candles. She had grabbed the last one near the window, several feet away from her bed, to rest on her nightstand. The wind caused the closed shudders to tap repeatedly. She fell asleep as fast as a troubled mind could.

Kassandra was quick to dream, and it was a good dream indeed. Gaudenis was on top of her while she lay in bed, eyes closed, working his lips up her neck, all the way to her mouth. She savored his touch, never wanting it to end. The breeze felt cool on her neck, moist from his mouth. “Oh Gaudenis,” she hummed, opening her eyes to meet his.

Her eyes found something else. She screamed. Above her lay the face of the devils on her father’s new armor. It’s wretched teeth jutting out from a grin, creating a trail of saliva that ran onto her neck. Its rank breath flooded her nose making her stomach churn.

Kassandra sat up quickly, coming back to reality. Her shutters had blown open from the wind. The rain had stopped, but the cool wind let itself into her room. Not real. Not real, she assured herself. She wiped off the rain that had blown onto her neck with her sleeve. She would sleep with her parents tonight.